The watchdog governing doctors is facing devastating criticism in the wake of the Shipman Inquiry, according to a leaked letter published today.

The General Medical Council faces a damning indictment of its work by the inquiry launched after Dr Harold Shipman's reign of murder, according to health magazine Pulse.

The inquiry examined the role of the GMC during and since Britain's worst serial killer murdered at least 215 patients.

A letter from the Inquiry to the GMC, leaked to Pulse, accuses the council of being self-serving, biased in favour of doctors, failing to protect patients, overly secretive and acting through "expediency rather than principle".

It could have far reaching implications for all doctors and may even end the controversial self-regulation regime for GPs overseen by the GMC.

The letter is from Shipman Inquiry solicitor Henry Palin to the GMC's lawyers.

The letter lists potential conclusions - and goes on to list a catalogue of criticism.

It blames the GMC for its "failure to lay down clear policies so as to properly reflect its claimed objective of protecting patients".

And it states the council may be censured not only for its performance during the period of Shipman's crimes but also for subsequent reforms and current policies.

The inquiry argues GMC decision makers may be said to "lack objectivity" and that their "prejudices favoured the doctor".

Shipman hanged himself last month after being convicted in 2000 of murdering 15 patients. The inquiry has found he murdered at least 215.

A spokeswoman for the GMC said: "The GMC has acknowledged deficiencies in our past procedures and we are currently implementing the biggest reform programme in the history of medical regulation."